“It seems like we have no choice in the matter.” Thyra scowled.
Unlike other portals Luccan had made, my blood did not open this one. Only Riis blood did that. Lord Riis was beyond reach, and Geiravor refused.
“Would you like to force the matter, if you wish, Princesses?” Astril asked. The pair had remained to guard us, but Sayyida and Vidar were back at Ramshold, informing the others of what had occurred. Of the queen’s death.
“No.” I’d permitted compulsion to see the mission through, but to take an ally’s blood was not something I’d allow. “We’ll give it another hour.”
Thyra crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned back in her chair.
The clock in the office ticked on and on and on. I glanced at it every few minutes, my resolve withering. Thyra caught me, arched an eyebrow.
“Second thoughts?”
I shook my head. Thyra snorted, not believing me at all.
Another agonizing half hour had just passed when the gateway shimmered. I sat straight up, watching the space on the wall. All others in the room, save for Lord Riis, were staring at the portal too.
The gateway opened, and Yrsa and Sváva walked through, followed closely by Caelo and Qildor, the former leaning on the latter’s shoulder. I waited. The gateway closed, and a strangled sound left my throat.
“Isolde?” Caelo said. “Vale and Thantrel aren’t here, are they?”
“No.” My breath tightened in my chest. “Why are they not with you?”
Caelo gestured to the bloodied bandage over his leg. “I took an arrow to the thigh. Vale commanded Qildor to get me out. We went through the exit—barely made it.”
Qildor maneuvered Caelo into a chair and sat him down with a soft groan. “Those water creatures are horrible. I’ll be having nightmares about them for moons to come.”
Unbidden, an image of the mermaid-like thing arose in my mind. I cringed. So, there had been more.
“When we finally got out of that channel, I heard the city bells and knew the brothel wasn’t safe,” Qildor continued. “I diverted to the closest meeting point and waited for Sváva. She and Yrsa only just collected us.”
“The entire city is still positively crawling with soldiers,” Sváva said. “It took us ages to get to the brothel, and I had them wait there as I went and looked for the prince and Thantrel. They weren’t at any of the other rendezvous points.”
My stomach sank to my knees.
“And no word of them in the underground of Grindavik?” Geiravor asked.
“Nothing, which means they’re likely hiding because the glamours had to have worn off, and if the king or Lady Ithamai caught them, there would be news.” Sváva swallowed. “I can go back and check again. However, it will take some time. Like we said, so many soldiers are patrolling the streets, looking for the Falk twins.”
Hiding. My breathing eased a touch. Yes, they had to be in hiding. Maybe in an abandoned building or home. Vale inspired loyalty in many–particularly soldiers. Perhaps someone had seen them and helped?
“I have a better idea. One that ensures no one is caught, and it will be faster.” Thyra nodded at where the gateway had been. “Can animals go through a gateway?”
“Of course. As long as they follow someone with Riis blood,” Sváva replied.
Thyra lifted her face to Freyia’s. “Find Aleksander and bring him and Arla here. We’ll send the hawk around the city, see if they can’t find the pair or hear anything about them.”
The moment the door closed behind the vampire, Thyra took my hand and squeezed. “Aleksander and Arla will find them. His hawk may take some time to search, but she has never failed the rebellion. She won’t fail us either.”
My brother sent his hawk through the portal and then disappeared behind his hawk’s eyes. Not too long after that, Rynni arrived to care for Caelo’s injury.
Though we were taking action, I’d never felt so useless. So done with waiting.
I was still staring at Aleksander, willing him to come back to us with good news, when my finger began to ache.Absentmindedly, I closed my fist, thinking pressure might help, but with the motion, pain exploded through me. I doubled over in my chair and gripped my left hand with my right as agony coursed through me. White spots filled my vision, blanking out large portions of the room.
“Isolde? What’s going on?” Panic rippled in Thyra’s voice as she came closer.
“My hand!” I whisper-screamed. “A sharp pain in my finger!”
